News

Secondary pupils across Argyll and Bute are celebrating today after achieving top marks in their exams and outperforming national averages. Figures for Argyll and Bute this year show the following pass rates:

Dunoon’s appeal as a fantastic location for cyclists and walkers moves into top gear this week with the launch of the new Dunoon Bothy Project   The Bothy will offer a range of activities for both experienced and new cyclists and walkers from its temporary base at the town’s pier.   Operated by Cycling UK and part funded by Argyll and Bute Council, the new facility is based on the successful Gourock Bothy which has proved a major attraction for Inverclyde locals and visitors since 2018.     

Following a tree survey in the early stages of the project, it was determined that a number of trees along the A83 were in poor health, overshadowed or dying. Work to remove the damaged trees will start on 9 August 2021.   Trees being removed, will be replaced with Hornbeam, specially chosen for the avenue along Poltalloch Street, as it is more salt tolerant than the Horse Chestnut. All existing healthy trees will be protected during the works.   On the plan below, trees coloured red are to be removed and green trees will remain. 

Do you want to make your home more energy efficient?Residents in Argyll and Bute are being given the opportunity to make their homes warmer and more energy efficient through the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme. Argyll and Bute Council has been awarded £1,742,819 to help residents make energy efficiency improvements to their properties. These include external/internal wall insulation, underfloor insulation, cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. The programme is available to:

“What can I do?” “What can we do together?” Councillor Robin Currie, Leader of the Argyll and Bute Council talks about being proactively climate-friendly, meeting ambitious targets and looking after the resources we all need. Climate friendly Argyll and Bute – LGIU

  Work underway on significant tourism development project Issued by VisitScotland    Gigha’s visitor economy is getting a boost with a major infrastructure project to improve facilities for motorhomes and campers.   Work is underway on the project, to provide a new fully accessible toilet and showering facility with provision for 6 motorhome hook up points, camping pitches and a motorhome waste disposal point.  

Lochgilphead historic buildings and shopfronts are set to get a makeover with the launch of a new grant scheme to help building owners carry out repairs. It is part of Argyll and Bute Council’s ongoing investment and regeneration in the town, to help attract more people and jobs to the area and make the place more vibrant for communities.   The Small Repairs Grant is part of the Lochgilphead Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), a £1.6million project that runs until March 2026. It follows on from previous successful CARS in Dunoon, Rothesay and Campbeltown.

Dunoon Primary school’s transformation has received a commendation in the prestigious Scottish Design Awards.   Argyll and Bute Council’s £10.7 million investment in the school, including £5.08 million from the Scottish Government, involved refurbishing, partially demolishing and extending the building to transform it into a school fit for the 21st century, while carefully preserving its Victorian B listed building status.  

Argyll and Bute Council has announced that its award-winning Catering Service team is taking over the running of the Ocean Explorer café at the Scottish Association For Marine Science (SAMS) building in Oban.   The re-named Beach Café is now run by the Council’s catering service which already delivers a number of catering facilities across Argyll and Bute, including providing 6,000 school meals per day to more than 80 primary and secondary schools and 56 early years settings.  

All local authorities in Scotland have been provided with funding by the Scottish Government to ensure that free period products are available to those who need them. To make it easy for you to get what you need, we have made an arrangement with Hey Girls, one of Scotland’s main providers of period products, that means you can order from a range of products using this survey monkey link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ZDQC8JT